Mad Hatters showed great human spirit

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Newstimes

Published 1:00 am, Monday, March 30, 2009

Danbury was blessed this winter with a very special group of young men and their coaches -- the Danbury Mad Hatters.

No one knew what to expect when it was announced that we would once again enjoy professional hockey in our neighborhood. Most of us were fans of the now defunct Danbury Trashers and were skeptical that we would ever again celebrate a high-caliber team. However, it was proven that we could.

These guys came together and played as individuals in the beginning but listened and played their hearts out and forged together as an amazing team.

It was wonderful to watch them mature and celebrate in their successes. Every game became special to me because it allowed me to escape my own problems and feel great to be a part of something truly great.

Thank you to
Coach MacIsaac
and his staff, the Ice Arena staff, the concession volunteers and the players themselves.

I will always be grateful. All of the team were special but my favorites were
Eric Kent
, Obi Aduba,
Derek McIntyre
, Matt Cosmos and Drew Medeiros.

These young men embraced me as one of their biggest fans and made this season something special.

In case you're thinking this is just about hockey, it's more about the human spirit. These men also found time to visit the sick in
Danbury Hospital
and sponsor a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness night. They constantly donated time for those in need.

Just like
Herb Brooks
taught his special band of young men that they could beat the odds and win the Gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, these young men showed that very special spirit as well.

They never gave up and fought like warriors. Thank you for showing us how amazing you truly are. See you next season.